구동사 시리즈 #11 – KEEP

📘 Phrasal Verb Series #11 – KEEP

🌿 Thinking in English: The Language of Continuity

“To keep is not to cling —
it is to care, to continue, and to remember.” 🌱

In English, “keep” means more than just ‘to hold’.
It’s about consistency, protection, and persistence —
the quiet strength that sustains.

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💫 1️⃣ keep on

To keep on means to continue doing something.

Examples

• She kept on talking even after the bell rang. 🗣️
• Keep on believing — you’re almost there. 🌿

👉 Feel it: “keep on” = steady motion — small steps that never stop.

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🌱 2️⃣ keep up (with)

To keep up means to maintain speed or progress; not to fall behind.

Examples

• I can’t keep up with all these messages. 📱
• She’s working hard to keep up her grades.

👉 Feel it: “keep up” = alignment — matching the rhythm of life.

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🌿 3️⃣ keep in

To keep in means to restrain or not release something.

Examples

• He tried to keep in his anger. 😤
• The teacher kept the students in after class.

👉 Feel it: “keep in” = containment — emotion under control or energy held back.

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🌸 4️⃣ keep out

To keep out means to prevent entry.

Examples

• Please keep out of the lab. ⚠️
• The fence keeps out wild animals. 🐾

👉 Feel it: “keep out” = creating safe boundaries — for protection, not rejection.

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💫 5️⃣ keep away (from)

To keep away means to stay distant for safety or discipline.

Examples

• Keep away from the fire. 🔥
• I’m trying to keep away from negative thoughts. 🌿

👉 Feel it: “keep away” = guarding your peace — healthy distance, not avoidance.

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🌾 6️⃣ keep at

To keep at means to persist despite difficulty.

Examples

• Keep at your studies — you’re improving. 📘
• She kept at the piano until she mastered it. 🎹

👉 Feel it: “keep at” = steady persistence — focus that shapes progress.

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🌊 7️⃣ keep to

To keep to means to follow or stick to something (a plan, rule, path).

Examples

• Let’s keep to the schedule. ⏰
• He always keeps to his promises. 🤝

👉 Feel it: “keep to” = integrity — staying true to your word or route.

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🌻 8️⃣ keep from

To keep from means to prevent or hold oneself back.

Examples

• I couldn’t keep from laughing. 😂
• She tried to keep him from leaving.

👉 Feel it: “keep from” = gentle restraint — the effort to hold emotion or action.

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🌼 9️⃣ keep up with

To keep up with means to maintain connection or awareness.

Examples

• It’s hard to keep up with technology. 💻
• I try to keep up with my old friends. 👭

👉 Feel it: “keep up with” = continuity of relationship or knowledge.

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🌷 10️⃣ keep going

To keep going means to continue despite fatigue or difficulty.

Examples

• When life gets hard, keep going. 💫
• You’re stronger than you think — keep going. 🌿

👉 Feel it: “keep going” = inner resilience — motion from the heart, not the world.

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🌿 Essence of KEEP

  의미의 흐름                         구동사 예시                                                                                 감각적 키워드

 

Persistence	keep on / keep going / keep at	지속, 인내
Protection	keep in / keep out / keep away	경계, 보존
Integrity	keep to / keep up with	성실, 일관성
Restraint	keep from	절제, 자제

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🌸 Closing Thought

“To keep is to hold gently —
not by force, but by faith.” 🌿

To “keep” is to respect time,
to believe that what matters will remain —
because consistency itself is a form of love. 💫

 

 

 

 

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